Countryside Soup Fair

On June 10^th and 11^th the “Sopas do Campo”, or Countryside Soup Fair, will be held in São Vicente. It is an event aimed at promoting the island’s regional cuisine, its aromas, flavors and in particular its typical broths such as the “Caldo da Romaria”, the “Sopa de Cebola” (Onion Soup) in addition to the “ Sopa de Trigo” ( Barley Soup), the “Sopa de Agrião” ( Watercress Soup), the “Sopa de Milho” (Corn Soup) and the famous “Açorda da Madeira”.

The Atlantic Festival

Pyromusical Shows

The four pyro musical shows last for about 20 minutes. The fireworks blast at 10.30pm at the entrance of the harbor (commonly designated as "Pontinha"). It takes place during all four Saturdays of June namely, the 3rd, 10th 17th and 24th.

Atlantic Roots Festival

The festival came out in 1994 and is one of the oldest traditional music festivals. Every year, the event promotes local traditional music, in association with World Music. Its programme has welcomed a wide variety of national and international performers, plus the best groups of traditional Madeiran music.

Regional Arts Week

Regional Arts Week is a cultural initiative whereby shows are presented at various times and locations across the city. Most of the elementary and secondary schools participate, and thousands of students appear on local stages in dozens of shows and artistic interventions held during the week.

The program includes several artistic performances in the areas of Chant, Drama / Theatre, Instrumental, Chordophones Traditional Madeiran Dance, and a painting contest. This event provides the partaking of artistic experiences and work of about 4000 students of the local primary schools and secondary schools, in collaboration with several groups in the field of Special Education, consolidation bonds between local schools and the community, in a perspective of social openness.

History and Traditions

The Madeira Atlantic Festival is one of the most recent tourist entertainment events, which took place for the first time in June of 2002. It is a tourist attraction which is characterized by the combination of fireworks and music.

The Regional Bread Fair

The Regional Bread Fair is an event organized by Funchal's Lions Club and has existed for over 20 years. It usually takes place at Restauração Square ( Largo da Restauração), and has as its aim of raising funds for the club's charity works.

The Popular Saints Festivities

The popular saint's festivities are festivities which are held in several countries, a celebration historically related to the summer solstice pagan festival, celebrated on June 24th. Madeira is no exception and therefore it will be celebrating the occasion by paying tribute of the three popular saints: St Anthony, St John and St Peter. The celebration includes plenty of music, dancing, eating and drinking.

16th Century Medieval Market

Held in the oldest settlement in Madeira, Machico’s 16th Century Medieval Market is an entertaining festival celebrating the early days on the archipelago.

In the first week of June the streets are decorated with colorful flags and tents, while locals are dressed in full medieval costumes – from knights and ladies to merchants and minstrels. Entertainment includes dramatic historical re-enactments, open-air theater, music, fire-eaters and acrobats. Market stalls sell a wide selection of handicrafts and offer demonstrations of pottery, weaving and woodwork.

A Look into the Past - Medieval Markets

As most people lived in the country, grew their own food, and made their own clothes, they needed places close enough to herd the animals and carry their wares to the market and then return home in the same day. Cross roads and river bridges were popular locations, especially if a church was nearby. Crafts people found it advantageous to build their workshops close to the market places. This helped villages and towns to form and grow.

Sunday grew to be a popular day for the markets. Folk could attend church and then visit the market to sell (or trade) and socialize. Markets were not only run by local people but also by churches, monasteries, noble lords, barons, and in some countries by the rulers. Sometimes shelters were built with crosses ("market crosses") on them for market traders. Those unable to afford a stall sold their items from baskets, or spread cloths on the ground to display their wares.

As Markets grew bigger, they attracted people from greater distances. Some people became peddlars, constantly travelling from one market to the next. Eventually they were joined by minstrels, performing animals, and other entertainers. Horses and carts became a regular sight.

In well-organised markets men were paid to check on weights, measurements, and scales, to catch those trying to cheat the customers, and to check the quality of goods. There were special market courts where dishonest traders were tried. Some of the punishments for the guilty were a day in the stocks or pillory, being pelted by passers by with rotten fruit and vegetables. A butcher or a fish monger caught and convicted for cheating customers might be pulled through the market on a sledge with a piece of stinking fish or meat around his or her neck.

Regional Custard Apple Exhibition

Each year, Faial Community Centre and the Farmers’ Commission, in partnership with the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources and Santana Municipal Council, organise the Regional Custard Apple Exhibition.The event celebrates one of the region’s most popular and widely cultivated subtropical fruits – the custard apple – helping to raise the profile of this fruit and its derivatives (liqueurs, flans, ice creams and milk shakes). The exhibition also features a wide range of entertainment, music and competitions in an atmosphere very like a traditional Madeiran country fair.

Lemon Festival

For the past 20 years, the Lemon Festival has been one of the biggest celebrations in Sant ana and it keeps getting better each year. Be sure to join us on May 4^th and 5^th for the Annual Madeira Lemon Festival.

You’ll find wonderful food, a fantastic family atmosphere, and variety of entertainment and activities that have made this the most anticipated event in Santana. 

Madeira Christmas Lights

The Christmas lights in Funchal and surrounding areas are switched on on the 8th December. The stunning decorations and lights remain lit until the 6th of January.
Not to be missed is the traditional get-together in Funchal Market (Mercado dos Lavradores) and surrounding streets on December 23rd.

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Iluminações de Natal na Madeira

The Christmas lights in Funchal and surrounding areas are switched on on the 8th December. The stunning decorations and lights remain lit until the 6th of January.
Not to be missed is the traditional get-together in Funchal Market (Mercado dos Lavradores) and surrounding streets on December 23rd.

Funchal International Film Festival

The Funchal International Film Festival is an anual cinematographic event which aims at  providing the Madeiran public with films which haven’t reached movie theaters or screening venues in the archipelago. The Funchal International Film Festival has existed since 2005.

Festival Internacional de Cinema

O Festival Internacional de Cinema do Funchal é um evento cinematográfico anual, que pretende dar a conhecer ao público da Madeira, as produções que habitualmente não chegam às salas de cinema do arquipélago. Realizado desde 2005.

Apple Festival

Camacha celebrates its traditional Apple festival in the second week of October with plenty of entertainment, folklore singing and dancing. There is also an Apple Cider press demonstration throughout the day, where locals and visitors get a chance to watch this time-honoured process and taste the delicious freshly made Apple Cider, known as “Cidra”.

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Festa da Maçã

A Camacha celebra a sua tradicional Festa da Maçã na segunda semana de outubro com grande festa, grupos folclóricos e bailarico. Faz-se também uma demonstração da prensa de Cidra ao longo do dia, onde os locais e visitantes podem ver este processo antigo e provar a deliciosa Cidra fresca.

Lord of Miracles Festival

The Lord of Miracles Festival is one of the most important religious festivities in the city of Machico, celebrated in the Chapel of “Senhor dos Milagres” one of the oldest chapels of Madeira and possibly the site where the two runaway lovers from Bristol, Anne d’Arfet and Robert Machin were buried. A flood destroyed the chapel in 1803, but miraculously the statue of the Lord, having been washed out to sea, was found 3 days later by an American galley that handed it over to the Cathedral of Funchal. Later it was returned to its respective chapel and  reconstructed on 15 April 1813. The miraculous day is still celebrated every year on the 9th day of October with a night candle procession followed by a memorable night of eating, drinking and entertainment.

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Festa do Senhor dos Milagres

A Festa do Senhor dos Milagres é uma das mais importantes festas religiosas da cidade de Machico e é celebrada na Capela do Senhor dos Milagres, uma das mais antigas da Madeira e possivelmente o local onde dois amantes fugitivos de Bristol, Anne d’Arfet e Robert Machin, estão enterrados.
Uma enchente destruiu a capela em 1803 mas miraculosamente a estátua do Senhor que foi levada pelas águas para o mar foi encontrada 3 dias mais tarde por um navio americano que o entregou à Sé Catedral do Funchal. Mais tarde foi devolvida à sua capela de origem que foi aberta após ser reconstruída a 15 de Abril de 1813. O dia milagroso é celebrado até hoje com uma procissão de velas na noite de 9 de Outubro. Neste mesmo dia a Câmara de Machico celebra também com os tradicionais comes e bebes e festa.

Madeira Nature Festival

The Madeira Nature Festival is the latest event on the annual Tourist Entertainment calendar. Aiming to inspire active visitors to explore nature in all its aspects – land, air and sea – there are plenty of activities for all ages, including trekking, paragliding, sailing and much more.

During a week (30 de setembro a 7 de outubro) Madeira Island will be celebrating the best the island has to offer to its visitors. Whether on land, on air or on sea, the choices are plentiful and everybody can experience activities targeted to all age groups, combining sport, entertainment, culture and Madeiran traditions.
Through this festival Madeira Island aims to promote active tourism through a natural approach. Nature in its purest and most beautiful form becomes a challenge that awaits all those who participate in the activities available. Find out more at www.visitmadeira.pt/madeiranaturefestival/.